Declassified Articles from the CIA Journal "Studies in Intelligence"

Approved for Release: 2014/09/02 C00621343

TITLE: Tribute to Women Who Have Died

AUTHOR :

(b)(3)(c)

VOLUME: 33 ISSUE: Summer' YEAR: 198 9

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STUDIES IN

IN TELLIGENCE

A collection of articles on the historical, operational, doctrinal, and theoretical aspects of inteliig

ence. ■

All statements of fact op.n.on or analysis expressed in Studies in Intelligence are those of

th authors^ They do not necessarily reflect officia. positions or viewJof the Centra
Int Ihgence Agency or any other US Government entity, past or present. Nothing in the
contents should be construed as assert.ng or implying US Government endorsement of an
article s factual statements and interpretations.

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The supreme sacrifice

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TRIBUTE TO WOMEN WHO HAVE DIED*

r~(b)(3)(c) I

We gather here today in recognition of Women's History Month — a time we set aside to
remember the remarkable women in our country who have left their mark in many different
fields of endeavor. And surely one whose contributions will be noted in future observances of
Women's History Month will be Senator Kassebaum.

At this time, it seems only fitting that we remember our own. Their names will never be
in a history book, but they will not be — and should not be — forgotten in these halls. Many
words have been written and spoken about the intelligence profession and the special demands
it makes of those who choose to follow it. We know when we come here that the work will be
tough; that a high measure of dedication will be required; that we will not be able to say much
about what we do; that our successes will often be hidden but any failures highlighted on the
front pages of the newspaper; that conditions in the countries in which we serve may not be
ideal for ourselves or our families. And we know, too, that in a profession where danger is real
and for some ever present, we may be asked to give that last full measure of devotion.

We honor today four of our women who made that supreme sacrifice: Barbara A. Robbins,
Phyllis Nancy Faraci, Monique N. Lewis, and Deborah Marie Hixon. There are no words that
can begin to express our gratitude to them, no way that we can lessen the pain for the families
they left behind, no promise that we can make that such outrages will not happen again. But
we can remember them, honor them, and, in so doing, perhaps rededicate ourselves to the
enormous tasks at hand.

Barbara Robbins was 20 twenty years old when she came to the Agency as a secretary.
Born in South Dakota and trained at Colorado State University in its secretarial program,
Barbara was eagerly awaiting that all-important 21st birthd ay and her first overseas tour. A ft(b)(3)( c )
serving an interim assignment in the then-Far East Division s '(b)(3)(n)
left for Saigon less than one month after turning 21. Once there, she quickly established herself
as a person with sound technical skills and as one who approached her job with enthusiasm and
dedication. She still found time for hobbies, one of which was flying as an amateur pilot.

The secretary tcj (b)(3)(c) L F£ Division reC alls to this day Barbara's

departure for Saigon — how happy and excited she was to be going overseas. And she recalls the
day when the cable came from Saigon with these words: "Our secretary is dead. "

Barbara Robbins was killed on 30 March 1965 by a Viet Cong explosion in front of the US
Embassy in Saigon. Posthumously, she was awarded the Medal of Honor for Vietnam Merit,
First Class.

" These remarks were made on 20 March 1989 in the CIA Auditorium.

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Phyllis Nancy Farad

-(b)(1)—
(b)(3)(c)
(b)(3)(n)

|iet another appraisal referred to her exemplary performance" and described her as
a "doer" who does not wait to be asked. For her performance over the years, she received a
Certificate of Exceptional Service, a Certificate for Special Achievement, and a Certificate of
Distinction. (b)(1)

| (b)(3)(c) Phyllis Faraci died in the bombing of the

US Embassy in Beirut on 18 April 1983, at the age of 44. Posthumously, Ms. Faraci was
awarded a Career Intelligence Medal and Certificate of Distinction for Courageous Perfor-
mance.

Monique N, Lewis

(b)(1)

(b)(3)(c)

Monique married an Agency

employee and both were sent to Beirut.

Mo nique told Agency friends how delig hted she was at the nrosnect of working with hpr

husband.

(b)(1)

(b)(3)(c)

(b)(3)(n)

the

Embassy was bombed. Tragically, Monique and her husband were killed— the first time that
both a husband and wife employed by the Agency have died while in the service of the CIA.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Lewis was only 36 years old.

(b)(1)
(b)(3)(c)

Deborah Marie Hixon

_(b)(1)_
(b)(3)(c)
(b)(3)(n)

In an appraisal of her performance, her sqpervisor noted that
"she is one of the finest young officers I have had the privilege of working with "

(b)(1)
-(b)(3)(c)

Her supervisors, noting her "intelligence, drive, ari(bU3U n )
perseverance, commented that she was performing at a level one would expect of someone
several grades her senior.

\n Beirut in April 1983, Deborah Hixon — only 30 years
old— was killed in the bombing of the US Embassy there. She was posthumously awarded an
Intelligence Commendation Medal and the Certificate of Distinction for Courageous Perfor-
mance.

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ET

Dwight David Eisenhower, our 34th president, once said, "Of all the nations of today, the
future will say that there were two kinds: those that were intelligent, courageous, decisive and
tireless in their support of high principle — and those that disappeared from the earth. The true
patriots of today are those who are giving their best to assure that our own country will always
be found in the first of these two categories."

Barbara Robbins, Phyllis Faraci, Monique Lewis, and Deborah Hixon were indeed among
the true patriots.

This article is classified SECKET.

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